On Sunday, former US President Barack Obama sent out a motivational message to the Class of 2020 that was graduating this year without the grand celebration. In a seven-minute-long video aimed at keeping the morale of the students high, he said that most of them might not be missing a lot, with their graduation in the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Congrats to the high school Class of 2020, as well as to the teachers, coaches, and most of all, parents and family… https://t.co/2IoU6E9qnq

Calling Obama's speech empathetic, thoughtful and inspiring, Kalaari Capital MD Vani Kola decided to share the key learning from his virtual announcement which stressed on the importance of this generation: 'This is your generation's world to shape'.

Picking notes from Obama's speech, she said that Covid-19 is causing unprecedented challenges. The well-off families are dealing with massive uncertainty, while those who were struggling before are now hanging by a thread. She stressed that this generation will need to grow up faster than previous generations.

The 56-year-old venture capitalist said that the responsibility lies on the shoulders of this generation to make the world better. "It doesn't matter how much money you make if everyone around you is hungry & sick," she reiterated from Obama's speech.

- Three parting words of advise 1) Don't be afraid 2) Do what is right 3) Build communities and create a world w… https://t.co/H7nbzIy2Vr

Kola also jotted down the three, key parting words of advice by the world leader.

Don't be afraid: We have seen tough times before, and each time, we came out stronger because the new generation learnt from past mistake and made things better.

Do what is right: Ground yourself in values that last like fairness, responsibility, hard work, honesty, generosity and respect for others.

Build a community: Create a world where everyone has equal opportunities. Don't be cynical, but understand that we can get through this by being together.

From Heartbreak To Heartthrobs: When PV Sindhu, Roger Federer Roared Back To Success After ...

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The Shooting Stars

29 Jul, 2019

The five greatest comeback stories from sports, of teams and players who reached their lowest point, but triumphed again.
What is a failure if not an opportunity to bounce back stronger? Even the greatest of sportspersons have faced crippling defeats, only to return bigger and stronger.
Here are some rousing instances when athletes and teams, after being humbled on the field, roared back to inspire generations to come.

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Badminton

29 Jul, 2019

PV Sindhu (L) vs Nozomi Okuhara (R)
BWF World Tour Finals 2018
The old adage goes, “You don’t win Silver, you lose Gold.” It must have been frustrating for PV Sindhu to finish second-best in seven tournaments. But her wait finally came to an end at the BWF World Tour Final in December 2018, in Guangzhou. She was up against a familiar opponent in Nozomi Okuhara. This time around, however, the story ended differently. Sindhu rose to the occasion, defeating Okuhara in straight games to become the first Indian to win the BWF Tour Final. Dropping to her knees as she won gold, the albatross had finally dropped off Sindhu’s neck.

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Cricket

29 Jul, 2019

India vs Australia
Border Gavaskar Trophy 2001
World Champions Australia visited India for three Tests against Sourav Ganguly’s young team in 2001, and the hosts were made to look silly in the first Test in Mumbai. Facing certain defeat in the second Test in Kolkata, a heroic stand of 376 runs between VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid brought India back. It was one of the greatest ever batting performances in cricket, something that changed more than just the outcome of that particular Test. It changed Indian cricket in many ways. Of course, another India victory in the third Test in Chennai sealed the series and left Steve Waugh’s final frontier dream unfulfilled.

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Football

29 Jul, 2019

Liverpool vs Barcelona
UEFA Champions League 2018-19
Having missed the Premier League title to Manchester City by a whisker, Liverpool’s hopes hinged on the Champions League. And in the semi-final, they faced a major hurdle in the form of Barcelona. After being routed 3-0 at Camp Nou in the first leg, Liverpool had to settle the goal difference first, and then score some more, in the second leg at home in Anfield. And in what was a very spirited comeback, despite star strikers Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino missing, Jurgen Klopp and his men gave no quarter, as they ended Barcelona’s campaign with a stunning 4-0 win.
One only had to look at Salah cheering on his team, wearing a T-shirt that said, ‘Never Give Up’. That night in May, not one soul in Liverpool did.

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Ice Hockey

29 Jul, 2019

United States vs Soviet Union
1980 Winter Olympics
This come-from-behind victory of the United States ice hockey team over the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics was so miraculous that it is remembered as exactly that: Miracle on Ice.
Having won five gold medals in the previous six Winter Olympics, the Soviets seemed indomitable. On the other hand, the United States ice hockey team was a young one coached by Herb Brooks. Nobody gave them a chance. Add to it, a 10-3 drubbing that the USSR handed the US in an exhibition match just before the Olympics.
Brooks and his team, however, fought a miraculous campaign, defeating USSR in the medal round, eventually winning Gold by beating Finland in the final.